ZPPA recorded over 100k tenders on e-GP system in 2025

According to the Zambia Public Procurement Authority […]

According to the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) 2025 Annual Report, the Authority recorded 103,326 tenders published on the electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System in 2025, compared to 45,724 tenders published in 2024.

The report seen by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT revealed that 29,358 tenders were published in Quarter 1, 27,283 in Quarter 2, 23,350 in Quarter 3 and 23,335 in Quarter 4.

Meanwhile, the report further indicates that since the introduction of the e-GP System in 2016, a cumulative total of 173,428 tenders have been published on the platform.

 In an interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, economic expert, Enoch Hachibi said the sharp increase was largely driven by Government’s move towards mandatory electronic procurement. “The big jump is simple because from April 2025, government said no more paper, everything must go on e-GP,’” said Hachibi.

He explained that the increase does not necessarily mean Government was buying more, but rather that procurement activities previously conducted manually were becoming visible on the electronic platform.

“It’s like switching on a light in a room that was dark,” said Hachibi. He said the high number of tenders also demonstrated the scale of opportunities available to local businesses under the Government’s economic agenda. “103,326 tender’s means road projects, construction of clinics and making school desks are being advertised,” said Hachibi.

He told ZBT that the e-GP system could also open procurement opportunities to SMEs that previously struggled to access government tenders. “Now a woman selling detergents can go on her phone, see a tender from the hospital, and apply,” said Hachibi.

 He added that increased competition on the platform could improve transparency and value for money by making procurement opportunities visible to multiple bidders. Meanwhile, Hachibi attributed the higher number of tenders in the first quarter to normal government budget implementation patterns, saying the key issue was whether advertised tenders were ultimately awarded and delivered.

Article by Philip Sinkala